In 2025, Hunan has improved the quality and efficiency of its international logistics channels, providing strong support for high-level opening up and ensuring the security and stability of industrial and supply chains.
In terms of air transport, the Changsha Huanghua International Airport piloted "direct loading on airport apron" service for export goods. Supported by the Changsha Customs Authority, the Changsha Huanghua International Airport and the Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport added 13 new air routes, while the Zhangjiajie airport resumed its international freight routes. In 2025, Hunan has handled 36,000 tonnes of international air cargos and parcels. Mangos from Bangladesh and pineapples from Benin were imported through Changsha airport successively, marking the first general trade imports of these products nationwide.
As for water transport, the Changsha Customs Authority has given play to the significant roles of Chenglingji Port as a first-class port and the functions of the Yangtze River as a golden waterway, rolling out a series of facilitation measures. The Yueyang-Vladivostok international shipping route has been operating in a regular manner. In 2025, Chenglingji New Port handled 194,000 containers for import and export trade.
As for land transportation, the Changsha Customs Authority has actively advanced the reform of "fast customs clearance for entry and exit freight trains." Throughout the year, Hunan handled 23,000 shipments based on this mode, marking a 17.8-fold growth and accounting for more than 50% of the total for the first time. The average customs clearance time of a single freight train was shortened by one to two days. The authority explored to set up pilot "pre-inspection" freight stations, relocating customs inspections and railway security inspections for the exported goods through China-Europe freight train service into the consolidation centers. This initiative has achieved "single clearance, coordinated supervision, and fast verification and customs clearance," cumulatively saving over 500,000 CNY of logistics cost for enterprises. In 2025, a total of 1,037 China-Europe freight train trips were operated, maintaining a scale of over 1,000 trips annually for five consecutive years.
To enhance the operation efficiency of the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal transport, the Changsha Customs Authority and its Guangzhou counterpart have deepened cooperation and mutual recognition of customs clearance. The customs clearance procedures were shifted from coastal ports, such as Guangzhou Nansha Port, to Hunan's international land ports. This allowed enterprises to complete all customs procedures within Hunan Province, reducing cargo transfer time at ports by approximately 50% and lowering logistics costs by nearly 30%.
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Chinese source: hunantoday
